Food safety raid: 30 firms get improvement notice

Thiruvananthapuram: The raids conducted by food safety department in curry powder manufacturing units and food business centres concluded with the department slapping improvement notices in for 30 units and a fine worth Rs 1.7 lakh.
The department closed down Midhilaj restaurant and catering service in Nadakavu near Kasargode and Akshay Bakery (manufacturing unit) near Govt hospital Kanhangad after finding that the institutions were functioning without mandatory food safety license and in unhygienic condition.
In the first and second phases of raids conducted in six days, the department has conducted inspections in 146 units. It took 101 statutory samples and 217 surveillance samples.
The raid was conducted on the directive of health minister K K Shylaja who received complaints over adulteration of packaged items such as curry powders and atta.
Around 23 units were inspected on Wednesday. Of these, four were given improvement notices. A fine of Rs 15000 was slapped on two units.
During the first phase of raids held last week, Nirapara Roller Flour Mill, Attingal, which was engaged in powdering and packaging of wheat, was closed down by the food safety department after finding that it was functioning in unhygienic circumstance. The department also seized and sent for lab test powdered products such as cumin, coriander and turmeric worth Rs 4.71 lakh manufactured by Palakkad-based Anakkara Food Processing and Export Private Limited.
The first phase raids were conducted in Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, Idukki, Ernakulam, Palakkad, Malappuram and Kannur districts. The second phase, which concluded on Wedneday, covered the next seven districts.